The Nobel prize-winner for Literature 2021, Abdulrazak Gurnah, spoke about the obligation to shelter refugees in an interview with ANSA on May 30.
"We have the duty to shelter refugees who are fleeing their countries because they risk their lives. It is a question of humanity. However, it is necessary to make a distinction between those who migrate for economic reasons. These are two different things, while the press tends to make them appear equal".
These were the words of Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah during an interview with ANSA. Gurnah, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2021, was a guest on May 30 at La Milanesiana -- an event titled "Infinity Between Mathematics and Literature", held at Villa Medicea 'La Ferdinanda' in Artimino, Tuscany, home to the Giuseppe Olmo Foundation.
During the evening, Gurnah read selected excerpts from his latest novel, 'Theft', in a program that brought together scientific thought and literary imagination.
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'You can no longer legally reach Europe'
"If there is no option for shelter in a country, we must have the courage to recognize this. The problem is that now it is no longer possible to reach Europe in a legal way and people choose to make this journey taking on incredible risks, to then be rejected and they are desperate", continued Gurnah, who is originally from Tanzania but is a naturalized British citizen.
Migration is among the central themes of Gurnah's novels
Migration has always been a central theme in Gurnah’s works, and 'Theft' is no exception. In the novel, Gurnah explores issues of colonialism and migration, memory and asylum, and the struggles of those trying to find their place in the world. The story also touches on poverty and the subjugation of one person by another.
"We need a different system -- one where you can request asylum, and the request is either accepted or not, depending on the circumstances. But many European states don’t want that," he commented. "I don't have the solution to the migration problem, Europe must offer the answer."
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